The entrance to the underground parking garage was bustling with activity. Li Dongze, one hand holding a cane and the other gripping his gun, strode into the garage and immediately scanned the scene with sharp, focused eyes. He first spotted Xu Yingying unconscious, then noticed the subtle streaks of blood on the ground and several private vehicles with visible damage. As a scout, Li Dongze quickly recognized that a brief but intense battle had taken place here. The fact that Xu Yingying was still alive indicated that the situation had not yet reached its worst. Several other spiritual realm practitioners moved with cautious alertness, swiftly surveying the scene before spotting a figure stepping out from the shadow near the rear of the vehicles. Instantly, everyone instinctively turned their guns toward him. "Don't shoot—it's me," Zhang Yuanqing quickly raised both hands, simultaneously observing the spiritual realm practitioners besides Guan Ya and Li Dongze. The tall, athletic man in a fitness outfit resembled a gym coach, standing at least 1.9 meters tall, with well-defined muscles radiating strength, wearing red half-gloves on his hands. A graceful middle-aged woman in a qipao painted with ink-and-wash brushwork, her classical coiffure elegantly arranged, has a poised and elegant figure, though her age appears substantial—yet her face remains fresh and refined, with no visible wrinkles. A middle-aged man wearing a deep brown work uniform and a miner's cap, his skin dark and weathered, bearing the marks of wind and time. A young woman in a white racing suit, with a delicate oval face, fair complexion, and lush, vibrant brows, radiating youthful vigor, holding a long black sword in her hand. The other two armed personnel are unremarkable in both demeanor and appearance. Upon seeing Zhang Yuanqing emerge from the shadows, the expressions of Li Dongze and Guan Ya, previously tense, visibly relaxed—as if relieved. After the meeting concluded, they received a call from Wang Tai, who informed them that Yuan Shi had discovered Ou Xiangrong at Songhai University, and that Ou had taken Xu Yingying hostage with intentions of wrongdoing. Li Dongze and Guan Ya were startled and immediately summoned several remaining team leaders, rushing to Songhai University. Li Dongze kept his face stern throughout the journey, his mood heavy, fearing that Yuan Shi might suddenly lose his composure and act without regard. New arrivals to the Spiritual Realm as Wayfarers often feel inflated when first experiencing extraordinary powers, especially when lacking experience and thus unsure of their limits—this makes them easily overeager. Now, seeing Zhang Yuanqing unhurt, both Li Dongze and the others breathed a sigh of relief. "Is that the Night-Wanderer?" asked the impetuous big-boned powerhouse first, after confirming with Li Dongze. Then, surveying the underground parking garage, he asked in a rough voice: "Hey, where did Ou Xiangrong go? Which way did he flee?" In his view, a 3-level Enchanting Spirit was no match for a 1-level Night-Wanderer. After a brief exchange, Ou Xiangrong had likely fled out of fear that official Spiritual Realm Wayfarers would arrive. If Ou Xiangrong hadn't escaped too long ago, then pursuing him now—given the scouts' tracking abilities—might still yield results. Li Dongze, Guan Ya, and several senior officers were all watching Zhang Yuanqing, waiting for his response. "He didn't run!" Zhang Yuanqing said. Didn't run? The crowd stiffened, raised their rifles, and stared around in astonishment and alertness. Then, this new recruit, pointing at the shadow behind him, said, "I took him out." What? Dai Jishibai nearly reached for his ears, suspecting he might have a hearing problem. He immediately lost his temper and growled, "Don't start playing jokes with me—this isn't the time for your humor!" Li Dongze and the others were taken aback, then furrowed their brows, looking at Zhang Yuanqing with a touch of caution. What's so fierce about it? Can't you just speak calmly? You wouldn't happen to be from the Chiho Clan, would you? Zhang Yuanqing patiently explained, "I'm not lying—his body is right at the back of the vehicle. Go check it yourself." Dai Jishibai glanced that way. The protruding pillars in the walls and the vehicle's body created overlapping shadows, making it hard to see the corner from his position. He immediately turned to go and check. "Wait a moment," the middle-aged man wearing a miner's cap stepped forward, glanced at Zhang Yuanqing, and said to the broad-shouldered man, "I'll go see." When the strong man noticed his colleague's serious expression, as though remembering something, he cast a cautious glance at Zhang Yuanqing and nodded. Zhang Yuanqing noticed that Li Dongze and Guan Ya's expressions were somewhat unusual, while the others' eyes carried clear, unspoken suspicion. At that moment, the middle-aged man in the miner's cap moved slowly but steadily toward the rear of the vehicle, then stared fixedly at a spot ahead, his eyes wide open, as if turned to stone. "Mr. Tang?" Seeing his colleague's expression of astonishment and bewilderment, the strong man felt a sudden surge of alertness, his upper body muscles instantly swelling, ready to act. The team leaders—Qingteng, White Dragon, and others—immediately became alert. Tang Guoqiang's demeanor was exactly like when he had been bewitched. But soon, they saw Tang Guo强 recover, bend down, and drag a body out, placing it under the spotlight and into the The body was wearing loose camouflage pants, a black vest, and a black coat. The face was smeared with blood, the eye sockets hollow, though the outlines of the features were still discernible—definitely Ou Xiangrong. The underground parking garage fell silent as everyone stared at the body in stunned silence. Li Dongze's expression shifted from serious to stunned, murmuring in amazement, "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness..." Guan Ya glanced at the body, then at Zhang Yuanqing, and suddenly remembered something, her expression thoughtful. A graceful woman in a ink-wash-style qipao, walking briskly in high heels, stopped beside the body, examined it carefully, and then said with a composed tone, "Yes, it's definitely Ou Xiangrong." After speaking, she looked up at Zhang Yuanqing with a touch of complexity. The big-muscle man's eyes widened, and he immediately exclaimed, "How did you do it?" Several team leaders were intently focused on Zhang Yuanqing, repeatedly assessing him. It was surprising that Ouyang Xiangrong—despite being seriously injured and no longer at his peak—had been defeated by a young, first-level officer. Now, Team Two had truly made a significant impact. What luck for Li Dongze! He had managed to recruit such outstanding subordinates. How had he done it? Didn't it just take a good pair of shoes? Zhang Yuanqing didn't respond; instead, he turned to his superior. Li Dongze stepped forward immediately, clearing his throat: "Yuanshi, you've done an excellent job—you've truly earned your commendation. Just moments ago, when we lost contact with you, we were being scolded relentlessly by upper management in the conference room." We think it's more likely that you've been influenced than that you actually killed Ou Xiangrong." A young woman in a white racing suit approached, holding a knife, and surveyed Zhang Yuanqing with a satisfied nod. "We were all wrong. Allow me to introduce myself—I'm Bai Long, a Level 3 Water Ghost." The team captain exuded an indomitable grace; there was no trace of feminine reserve or hesitation in her presence. With every glance, she carried herself with confidence, as if everyone else were just her younger siblings. "Master Yuan Shi," Zhang Yuanqing said. The other captains paused. "Such a great name..." Indeed, it was impressive—just hearing it made one want to give him a good talking-to. Bai Long smiled. "Just call me Yuan Shi, then. That's good—I always thought young men your age would go for some unusual names." "Like what?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, shrugging with a warm smile. Bai Long was momentarily surprised. She hadn't expected such ease and familiarity from him—especially when facing a superior's teasing. One would have thought a typical person would have been modest or reserved in such a situation. "For example, Da Ji Bua." Guan Ya smiled warmly and stepped forward, taking up where Bai Long left off. Da Ji Bua: "…The meaning behind my name is 'powerful, dominant muscles.'" "That's exactly what I meant!" Guan Ya looked pure and sincere. Da Ji Bua was left speechless. Meanwhile, several official Lingjing travelers arrived hurriedly, carrying stretchers and coffins. They had just received a call stating that the murderer had been defeated and immediately came to collect the body, also lifting Xu Yingying out and transporting her to the hospital for treatment. Li Dongze didn't delay further, saying, "Yuan Shi, please come with us back to see Ou Xiangrong's memories." "No, he shouldn't come," Tang Guoqiang shook his head. "Ou Xiangrong has been contaminated by evil forces. We're not sure whether his spiritual body has also been affected. Moreover, the seductive spirit beast is bloodthirsty and violent, with a strong negative energy that he simply cannot endure. Yuan Ting will return to Songhai in the afternoon; hand him over then." Zhang Yuanqing immediately recalled his encounter with the hospital where spiritual bodies were consumed, and felt a sudden sense of apprehension. Yet then he thought again—should the incident of him defeating Ou Xiangrong come to the attention of other Night-Wanderers, the Red Slippers would surely be exposed. Of course, exposure didn’t necessarily mean immediate competition or pursuit, but he still needed to remain cautious. "This isn't a problem," Li Dongze waved his hand, his tone firm. "I'll find a way to resolve it for him. Ou Xiangrong's memories are crucial—better to inquire about them as soon as possible. We can't yet determine how much of the memory remains intact in the corrupted spiritual bodies." Tang Guoqiang thought for a moment and nodded slightly. While he still didn't fully agree with Li Dongze's approach, he had to admit that the team had been responsible for the victim's death and thus held the authority to make decisions. At that moment, a graceful woman in a qipao approached, asking with genuine concern, "Have you sustained any injuries? Do you need treatment?" Her tone was warm and her attitude eager, as though Zhang Yuanqing were one of her closest confidants. Li Dongze smiled and introduced, "This is Qingteng, the captain of the Hundred Blossoms Association, specializing in healing. Within the Five Elements Alliance, the wood spirits are also known as healers. If you have any injuries, just let her know." Healer? Zhang Yuan thought to herself—how seriously do these healers take their role? Could they possibly force everyone to hold onto their futures? Li Dongze then introduced the sturdy man and the miner-hatted figure: "This is Da Jibu, the powerhouse of the Chihuo Clan, and Tang Guoqiang from Zhongting. Both captains are seasoned travelers of the spiritual realm." Indeed, members of the Chihuo Clan... Zhang Yuan immediately said, "Good morning, both captains—thank you for your support." Da Jibu nodded with satisfaction. "Shall we add each other as friends?" "That would be great!" Qingteng and Bai Long agreed. Tang Guoqiang spoke little, but he reached for his phone first. Li Dongze sighed slightly. After Zhang Yuan and the several captains had added each other as friends, Li Dongze said, "Let's first transport the bodies back. The rest of the team will stay on site to assist At the beginning, you take Guan Ya's car back to the office and submit a report. A moment later, official spiritual travelers drive in a business sedan and a blue sports car into the underground parking garage. "Chief, may I ride in your business sedan?" Zhang Yuanqing has something he'd like to say privately to Li Dongze—such as asking him to delete certain surveillance footage. "No," Li Dongze shakes his head, refusing, "you're too messy right now; you're not elegant enough." He then turns to the several team leaders. "Let's all go back together." Zhang Yuanqing opens his mouth, hesitates, and finally, with a sigh, watches as Li Dongze and the team leaders board the business sedan and leave. Guan Ya's eyes glint, she glances at him, and smiles. "Chief has taken care of the people who were getting in the way. Come on, I'll take you to delete the surveillance footage." ...Zhang Yuanqing focuses on his nose, then on his heart. ...The blue sports car speeds smoothly along the wide streets. Guan Ya wears sunglasses, holds the steering wheel, and hums a tune, clearly in a good mood. She murmured, "Your luck is truly good—you've just become a Spirit Realm traveler and already received a rule-based item." She felt just as fortunate herself, having just needed merits, and now they arrived. "Did you two know about this all along?" Zhang Yuanqing didn't seem at all embarrassed; instead, he offered a well-timed compliment: "The scouts truly are the most perfect profession." As someone skilled in social interactions, he managed to adjust his mindset effortlessly. "We've only been speculating so far. Remember, insight is the scout's natural talent," Guan Ya smiled. "You've picked up on my subtle hints and kept the rule-based item hidden—so you're not exactly slow-witted." Zhang Yuanqing immediately pressed on: "Will the organization ever ask me to hand over the item?" "They won't force you, but if you choose to submit it voluntarily, they'll gladly accept it and reward you with merits and money. Still, human nature is complex—being a newcomer with such a valuable rule-based item in your hands, you'll surely draw some sharp-eyed competitors who might see it as a threat." "Guan Ya patiently advised: 'The centurion can hide you for a while, but not for life. You might want to consider building your own support—perhaps someone above your superior.' 'Can that centurion really protect me?' Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, wondering how you could guarantee that someone even higher up wouldn't suddenly take notice of your value. 'That man comes from a noble family, raised from childhood with gold and silver at his fingertips, proud and lofty. While I may not know much about the other staff members, I can vouch for his character.' Guan Ya smiled. 'Moreover, he constantly claims to govern through virtue, though in reality he's quite generous—more of a "big spender" than a strict rule-follower. A single rule-based item won't shake his pride. 'However, he has a very high standard and tends to overlook ordinary candidates, favoring elite talents.' Zhang Yuanqing nodded once, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and let the matter pass. Guan Ya hummed softly: 'You've made a strong impression today. Once your achievements spread throughout the Five Elements Alliance, there will surely be people—both openly and subtly—working to undermine you Be careful about the beauty strategy—there have been instances of flattery before, and those two team leaders have shown particular interest in you. Zhang Yuanqing spoke with firm dignity: "I remain loyal to Team Two. I will absolutely not fall for the beauty strategy." Unless I can't help myself! he added mentally. "But you're a Scorpio." Guan Ya rolled her eyes. Ah? What does that have to do with being a Scorpio...? Zhang Yuanqing looked utterly puzzled. "Have you ever heard the astrological saying: 'Fish signs don't talk about dogs, but Scorpios always end up with them'?" "...?" ... In the black business sedan, Li Dongze drove himself, gazing straight ahead with a bright smile. "Oh, oh, I didn't even realize I'd finished everyone's tasks so thoroughly. As a team member, I'm not very fair—sorry to all of you, I haven't let you claim any credit." You're showing off just how much you're proud of it, aren't you? The four team leaders' faces darkened. "Once the prize money is paid out, I'll treat everyone to dinner." "Li Dongze smiled and said, 'Don't be envious—this is all just coincidence. He happened to pass through the Shē Ling tunnel and happened to defeat Ou Xiangrong. Nothing special about it.' 'You're being rather rude,' the big-shouldered man grumbled. 'Be graceful, not so impatient. I'll report to Major Fu Bai right away.' With the captain's glares still fixed on him, he pulled out his phone and dialed Fu Bai's number. During the Ou Xiangrong incident, due to their own shortcomings, Major Fu had borne considerable risk. Now that Ou Xiangrong had been eliminated, as a subordinate, he needed to report promptly. The young Yuan Shi has truly done him proud.